What happens when two boats finish level in canoe sprint?
I · Intermediate · The competition · 2 of 2They share the place. If the dead heat is for a place that decides who goes through, both go through when the next round has a spare lane. If it has none, the boats race again, no sooner than an hour later. A dead heat in the re-race is settled by drawing lots.
How it works
- Level at the line: "If two (2) or more boats cross the finish line at the same time, they get the same classification".
- For a qualifying place, with lanes free: both advance, and lots decide which race each goes into. Lane 0 or lane 10 may be used.
- With no lane free: "a re-race between the boats involved as soon as possible but not earlier than 60 minutes after the initial race".
- If the re-race cannot be held: lots.
- A dead heat in the re-race: lots.
- Places after a dead heat: the boats take the best place among them, so two may both be recorded as first.
- Irregular marks, in order: DNF, DSQ, DNS, DQB.
- DNF and DSQ: ranked in the phase reached, after those with a valid result.
- DNS: ranked only if it happened in a quarter-final, semi-final or final. A DNS in the heats is not ranked.
- DQB: no rank at all.
The glossary has the finish and dead heat (sprint) entry and the irregular ranking marks entry.
Tricky cases
Two boats dead heat for gold. Is there a re-race?
No. They get the same place. The re-race is only for a tie over a place that decides progress to the next phase.
Two boats tie for the last place in a final that has nine boats already. What happens?
It depends on the lanes. If lane 0 or lane 10 can be used, both may advance. Otherwise they re-race.
Is a boat that did not start in the heats ranked last?
No. A DNS in the heats is not ranked.
Is a disqualified boat ranked?
It depends on the kind. A boat disqualified from a race (DSQ) is ranked after the valid results in that phase. A boat disqualified from the competition (DQB) has no rank.
Why the rule exists
A final has only as many places as there are lanes. Where water is free, the fair answer to a tie is to let both boats through. Where it is not, the boats settle it by racing after an hour to recover. Chance is the last resort.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ICF rules | As above | SP 10.6.3; SP 10.6.4; SP 10.6.7 |
| World championship finals | Boats within 5 thousandths of a second share the time and position | SP 13.8.1 |
| Canoe slalom | Ties stand, and tied athletes all progress | ../slalom/ set |
From the rule book
International Canoe Federation, Canoe Sprint Competition Rules 2025, Articles 10.6.3 to 10.6.7 and 13.8.1. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: ICF Canoe Sprint Competition Rules (PDF).